Two tickets to paradise on the MTR please!

A bike path, a pool, tennis courts, mountain air, the harbour.....what more could you ask for of a vacation? How about being a 45 min subway train ride away from your downtown city apartment!

Sha Tin is a wonderful weekend spot to get away from it all. It's located in the New Territories region of Hong Kong, a place where most expats will never venture during their stay here. Many locals have "country houses" in this part of Hong Kong so they can escape the heat and the crowds of expats taking over their city.

D and I found the weekend to be more relaxing than most vacation trips we've been on! The hotel amenities were wonderful and food was delicious (except for the fact that you had to deshell your own shrimp and conch)

I just couldn't bring myself to eat it

There were a few language confusions, since English is not as widely spoken in Sha Tin. D asked for a Caipirinha, Brazil's national cocktail, made with cachaça sugar and lime. I told D that the waitress looked a but confused when he ordered and that he should have stuck with something more local. In the end, I was right because instead of his drink he ended up with a pot of peppermint tea.

Our favorite activity was the long bike ride we took one afternoon. We had beautiful views of the harbor and it was so nice to breathe in some fresh mountain air (that is when we weren't riding next to the sewer treatment plant). We planned on using the gym and the tennis courts the following day. Unfortunately, we were both too sore from biking to move.

Before 1.5 hour ride

After 1.5 hour ride

After a busy few months this summer, Sha Tin was the perfect weekend retreat. Would I do it again? Of course, but next time I think I will just stick to the basics.